Regional

7:46 am

Wed October 2, 2013

NM Survivor Of Bataan Death March Dies At Age 95

A New Mexico man who was a survivor of World War II's infamous Bataan Death March has died at the age of 95.

Family members say Vicente Ojinaga died Monday at his home in Santa Fe.

Born in Santa Rita, N.M., Ojinaga enlisted in the military a few years after graduating high school and was sent to the Philippines.

He became one of 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers, including 1,800 New Mexicans, who were taken captive by the Japanese when the U.S. forces surrendered in the province of Bataan and Corregidor Island in April 1942.

In all, tens of thousands of troops were forced to march to Japanese prison camps in what became known as the Bataan Death March.

Ojinaga was held captive for 3 ½ years before being released.

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